Helmet



Nov. 18, 1928. 1.691,2o

7 R. C. LA VAN HELMET Filed June 9, 1926 INVENTOR ,2. C. LH l/fm/ Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNETED STATES REABOURNE C. LA VAN, OF DAY'ON, OHIO.

HELMET.

Application filed June 9,

This invention relates to helmets and more particularly to a helmet especially adapted for use in aviation to protect the head of the pilot or the aviator.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a helmet which is constructed of four Sections or pieces extending from front to rear and which join together along a central seam in the plane of symmetry of the helmet and along seams lying in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of symmetry and to each other and having the same curvature as the central seam as Viewed from the side. The helmet is constructed of the two top and the two side pieces attached together by the three longitudinally extending seams, and the lower portion of the two side pieces are of general triangular shape and extend down beneath the chin of the wearer and are provided there with fastening means by which they are attached together. Radio receiving pockets are provided so as to eX- tend outwardly from each of the side pieces of the helmet and goggle retaining straps are provided at the rear of each` of these side pieces. i

The four pieces or Sections of the helmet are constructed of any suitable flexible material such as leather lined with a softer ma- 80 terial such as chamois and it will be understood that by the arrangement as shown and the arrangement of the seams a helmet is provided which will conform to Various head sizes. The single attaching fastener on each side beneath the chin pulls downwardly on the entire side of the helmet and takes up all of the looseness in the helmet in a distributed manner so a single helmet may neatly conform to various sized heads.

With the above and further objects in View, as will be more fully set forth in the following description and claims wherein the preferred form of my invention is set forth, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in whiclr-A Fig. 1 is a side view of the helmet, and

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals an aviatorls helmet is shown asrconsisting of the similarly shap'ed top Sections 1 and 2 of leather which are attached together along a seam 3 extending from front to rear of the helmet in the plane of symmetry thereof. The two side pieces 4 and 5 are each attached along seams 6 and', respectively, to the Sections 1 and 2.

1926. Serial No. 114,749.

These seams 6 and 7 as shown in Fig. 1, extend from front to rear of the helmet in planes disposed at an angle to the plane including the central seam, the two top sections 1 and 2 having a substantially greater width at their middle portions than at the ends thereof.

The two side sections 4 and 5 have their lower portions formed of substantially triangular shape with the apeX of the triangle extending beneath the chin of the wearer, suitable fastening end attachment such as the strap 8 and buckle 9, being provided on the Sections 4 and 5, respectively. The front of the helmet eXtends over the forehead and is provided at 10 with an edging or beading of leather. This edging extendsdown along 'the cheek of the weai'er at ll and a similar edging is provided at 12 along the entire bottom of the helmet. 13 and 14 indicate leather receiver pockets extending outwardly from the side Sections to which they are attached by means of the seams 15. The two side sections are also provided with goggle retaining straps 16, sewed at 17 to the side section. A quickly detachable fastening 18 attaches the other end of the strap 16 in place. i

It has been found that with the top and side sections or pieces cut with the proper Shape, and with seams extending as shown, a helmet is provided which will fit heads of different sizes, any looseness in the helmet being taken up in a distributed manner by the single attachment. fastener beneath the chin. The seams 3, 6 and 7 may therefore extend continuously and permanently from the front of the helmet to the rear thereof without the necessity for any adjustable lacing arrangement heretofore necessary in adapting helmets to Various sizes of heads. I am aware that various modifications and changes inay be made in my invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof and I do not intend to be limited to the precise construction which has been chosen herein for purposes of illustration.

I claim- 1. A helmet comprising a pair of similarly shaped top Sections extending from front to rear of the helmet, one on each side of the plane of symmetry thereof and attached together by a seam from the front to the rear of the helmet along the plane of symmetry, and a pair of side pieces, one for each side of the head, said pieces being joined to the adj acent too sections along lines substantially as viewed from the side.

2. A helmet comprising a pair of similarly shaped top Sections extending from front to rear of the helmet, one on each side of the plane of symmetr thereof and attached together by a seam ffom the front to the rear of the helmet along the plane of symmetry, and a pair of side pieces, one for each side of the head, said pieces being joined to the adj acent top sections along lines substantially concentrically parallel with the central seam as viewed from the side, said side pieces each having a substantially triangular lower portion to extend under the chin of the wearer, and fastening means associated With theend of each triangular portion for attaching them together beneath the chin of the Wearer.

3. An aviatoris helmet consisting of a pair of similarly shaped top Sections extending from front to rear'of the helmet, one on each side of the plane of symmetry thereof and attached together by a seam from the front to the rear of the helmet along the plane of symrnetry, and a pair of side pieces, one for each side of the head, said pieces being oined to the adjacent top sections along lines substantially concentrically parallel With the central seam as viewed from the side, the width of the said top Sections being substantially greater at their middle portions at the top of the head of the Wearer than at the ends thereof.

4. Ahelmet comprising a pair of top sections extending from front to rear of the helmet, one on each side of the plane of symmetry thereof and attached together by a seam from the front to the rear of the helmet along the plane of symmetry, and a pair of side pieces, one for each side of the head, each of said pieces being joined to its respective adj acent top section by a seam lying in plane disposed at an angle to the plane of symmetry.

5. A helmet comprising a pair of top sections extending from front to rear of the hel-` met, one on each side of the plane of symmetry thereof and attached together by a seam from the front to the rear of the helmet along the plane of symmetry, and a pair of side pieces, one for each side of the head, each of said pieces being joined to its respective adjacent top section by a seam lying in plane disposed at an angle to the plane of symmctry, said side pieces each having a substantially triangular lower portion to extend under the chin of the Wea-rer, and fastening neans associated With the end of each triangular portion for attaching them together beneath the chin of the wearer.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

REABOURNE C. LA VAN. 

